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Logitech's G5 mouse is one of a new breed of super high precision laser mice that have begun to appear on the market. For the average user, a standard optical mouse will be more than accurate enough for everyday word processing and internet tasks; however graphic designers, video editors and gamers often demand more. The 2000 dpi laser sensor on the G5 signifies a move away from the optical sensors that have dominated the market, and offers pin point accuracy at a hefty price point.

The G5 is marketed squarely at gamers, however it is equally suited to any high precision task. Logitech's whole range of mice have a distinctive humped shape that fits well in most hands, (though smaller mice can often be awkward for those with large hands) and the G5 continues this tradition. We found the G5 comfortable to use, even over several hours. The grip on the G5 is made from a course black rubber that feels similar to sandpaper. This is designed to stop the hand sweating through a tense gaming match, and give better grip at those vital moments, and we could definitely notice the difference.

However the aesthetics of the mouse were not to our liking. The last few mice released by Logitech have strange, warped patterns across them, and the G5 is no exception. It is painted with a shifting red, copper and silver design that seems a little out of place and we kept wondering whether or not we'd already worn down part of the paint..

Logitech are emphasising two big selling points of the mouse, the first known as 'on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment', which spills over from Logitech's older optical mouse, the MX518. Sensitivity adjustment allows the user to switch between three different dpi settings at the push of a button, which default at 400 dpi, 800 dpi and 2000 dpi respectively. This means a user can have a high sensitivity for running and gunning in a first person shooter, then switch to a lower, more accurate sensitivity for long range sniping. Sensitivity adjustment is equally applicable to things like graphic design, where a high sensitivity may be needed to draw, but a lower one for close up detailed work.

The second key feature of the G5 is the adjustable weight. No one weight will completely satisfy every person and some users will comment that a mouse is too light while others argue it is too heavy. The G5 changes that by offering a slot in the base of the mouse, in which a plastic tray can be fitted. Logitech gives you 38 grams of extra weight, broken down into 4.5 and 1.7 gram discs, which can be added to the tray. This makes the G5 a light mouse, a heavy mouse and anything in between. We personally loved it with the full complement of 38 grams. Others might prefer the middle ground. The beauty of it is that the mouse weight is entirely up to you.

Whilst these two features are both big selling points, what really sets this mouse apart from the previous generation is the 2000 dpi laser sensor. The G5's accuracy was like nothing we'd ever felt before. It connects via a full speed USB 2.0 connection, and operates at a massive 6.4 megapixels a second. This equates to unparalleled precision. It is hard to quantify the improvements a new mouse can have, but suffice to say, even upgrading from the previous generations of the MX510 or MX518, you will notice the difference.

The G5 also comes equipped with new polytetrafluoroethylene feet, which reduce friction between the mouse and the pad beneath. Many gamers used to add Mouse Skates, or other third party feet to their mice, but this is no longer necessary. The G5 glides beautifully along any surface.

We did encounter one problem when using the G5 - the laser has some trouble tracking on dark surfaces. Light and middle range shades (grays, blues, reds etc) are fine, but dark greens, browns and blacks all create problems. This is a reasonably big issue, as many popular gaming and desktop mousepads come in black. Before you purchase this mouse, scout around and see whether other people have had problems using your mousing surface. It can be fickle. For example, our Func 1030 pad has two sides, a rough side and a smooth side. The G5 operates flawlessly on the smooth side, but has some trouble with the rough side, despite them both being similar in colour.

PCW Evaluation Team

I would recommend this device for families and small businesses who want one safe place to store all their important digital content and a way to easily share it with friends, family, business partners, or customers.

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